take heed

[blouen]

*** Take heed lest any man deceive you. (Mark 13:7)

* Does "take heed" here simply means "to listen and pay attention" as suggested by dictionary.com?

Did Jesus mean, "Listen to what I am going to tell you now so that no man might fool you."

If so, this verse wouldn't stand alone and needs the proceeding context to make sense(13:8 onwards)

[Hi_there_Carl]

I always think of "take heed" as meaning "this is a warning"

[blouen]

Originally Posted by Hi_there_Carl

I always think of "take heed" as meaning "this is a warning"

Me too!!

But when I checked it in dictionary.com it says "to listen and pay attention".

Would be more accurate/correct to assume that it means : "This is a warning, so listen and pay attention to what I am going to tell you."

[vil]

Hi,

to take heed = to be careful or cautions

"Take heed what doom against yourself you give."

to have heed to , to attend with care, as, take heed to thy ways.

to take heed of - to have caution

A few speculations upon the usage of this expression:

Take heed lest any man deceive you, least, having found the true Messiah, you lose him again in the crowd of pretenders, or be inveigled to embrace others in rival ship with him. Many shall come in my name (not in the name of Jesus) but saying, I am the Christ, and so claiming the dignities which I only an entitled to." After the Jews had refuged the true Christ, but never before, those false Christs deceived many therefore take heed least they deceive you. Note, When many are deceived, we should thereby be awakened to look to ourselves. They must take heed that they be not disturbed at the noise of wars, which they should be alarmed with. Sin introduced wars, and they come from men's lusts. But at same time the nations are more distracted and wasted with wars than at other times.

Take heed by yourselves. Though you may escape the sword of war, better than some of your neighbours, because you interest not yourselves in the public quarrels, yet be not sure, you will be
exposed to the sword of justice more than others, and the parties that contend with one another, will unite against you. Take heed therefore lest you deceive yourselves with the hopes of outward prosperity, and such a temporal kingdom as you have been dreaming of, when it is through many tribulations that you must enter into the kingdom of God. Take heed lest you needlessly expose yourselves to trouble, and pull it upon your own head. Take heed what you say and do, for you will have many eyes upon you.’’

Regards.

V.